New Jersey Senate Bill S4287

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/24/25
• Refer: 3/24/25

Caption

Requires health insurance coverage for donation of organs from individuals declared dead.

Impact

The proposed legislation represents a notable change in how health insurance policies address organ donation. By mandating coverage without cost-sharing, the bill seeks to remove financial obstacles that may prevent families from choosing to donate organs. This could lead to an increase in the number of organs available for transplantation, potentially reducing waiting times for those in need of transplants. Moreover, the bill reinforces the state’s stance on supporting organ donation as a vital aspect of healthcare and promotes public health by aiming to save lives through increased availability of transplantable organs.

Summary

Senate Bill S4287 introduced in New Jersey requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for organ donations by individuals who have been declared dead. This coverage will be provided without any cost-sharing to the insured individual. The bill is significant in that it stipulates the condition under which organ donation can occur, specifically stating that the individual must be registered as an organ donor or have a representative consent to the donation. This is in line with existing state law regarding organ donation, but S4287 aims to ensure that there are no financial barriers for families wishing to proceed with organ donations after a declaration of death is made.

Contention

While S4287 generally garners support for its pro-organ donation stance, there may be points of contention related to how the bill is implemented and enforced. Questions may arise regarding the obligations of insurance carriers and the definitions of appropriate costs associated with organ donation. Additionally, ethical concerns regarding consent and the definition of death as per the Declaration of Death Act may surface in discussions, particularly concerning how these definitions are applied practically in the context of organ donation.